chuck hagel, a republican, who had been a senator for a dozen ye years. republicans had delayed his vote and objected over his views on iran among other things, but tonight, the senate confirming him by a vote of 58-41, with four republicans voting for him. >>> tonight, meanwhile, congress has just two days left now to make a deal or automatic spending cuts will kick in on friday. and this evening, the president arguing it would not only hurt jobs, but among other things, the country's defense. abc's chief white house correspondent jon karl breaking it down tonight. >> reporter: the president took his battle over looming spending cuts to the giant military shipbuilding facility in newport news, virginia. warning of lost jobs and worse. >> this work, along with hundreds of thousands of jobs, are currently in jeopardy, because of politics in washington. >> reporter: not just jobs, national security at risk, too. across the bay in norfolk is the "uss harry truman." it is supposed to be on its way to the persian gulf, but has to stay docked because of the cut